"I’m out here trying to get shows and a lot of these dudes are taking my money you understand? It’s like a lot of these cats are taking my money. The Ugly Ducklings, Atmosphere, Aesop Rock, and all this shit that I ain’t even heard of. I guess it’s a lot of these young kids that always be on the computer that are into these MC’s and these groups that kinda represent and look like them. When I hear these niggaz music I be like ‘damn that’s horrible man.’ This shit is straight garbage," – Defari, Interview with ThaFormula.com.

singles, and even sport merchandise that supports his art. Last year, Defari

and I even conducted an introspective interview together that covered topics

few journalists care about, and dealt with issues privy to those who listen to

the man’s words.

How can it be then, that Defari’s words on another website:

ThaFormula.com, don’t return that appreciation? Defari’s attacks on the white role in Hip-Hop are both astonishing and hurtful to this writer. As a white man, Defari basically says, that my existence is good enough to buy his records but not share his stage. That catch-twenty-two not only caused me to write this, but also generates some thoughtful conversation.

Defari’s diatribe mentioned three Hip-Hop acts: Ugly

Duckling, Aesop Rock, and Atmosphere. All three of those artists are also

making music that I support with my dollars. All three artists, like Defari,

operate from an independent platform, and make very authentic Hip-Hop, as does

the critic himself. Slug, another journalistic acquaintance, has been making

public records for over a decade, around Defari’s level of seniority. The same

is close for Ugly Duckling, another group I’ve interviewed, and Aesop Rock.

These artists, with Defari, are in the same boat, so to speak.

In Defari’s argument, he has accused these acts of taking

his money. I do believe that ALL Hip-Hop artists are, in a sense, taking each

other’s money. If I’m deciding between two records, one artist gets my money,

the other doesn’t. That’s life, and motivation to make such a fucking good

record that we, the audience, can’t resist buying it. So to accuse three

specific groups, doesn’t make sense – especially when Ugly Duckling, a Long

Beach trio, has in a since, "come up" in the same territory as Defari

Herut. Coming up in Los Angeles, or any city, is the very essence of

competition.

Next point: I think all three of these white acts pay homage

to original Hip-Hop. The proof is in the pudding. Aesop Rock did work with a

legend of the unsigned scene, Percee P. Ugly Duckling recently worked with

veteran MC, Grand Puba. Atmosphere, who are decision makers on their

Rhymesayers label, are putting out a M.F. DOOM LP this year by the KMD

front-man. This isn’t Anticon: a group that seems to never expand into any

Hip-Hop artistry besides their own. These are artists that are clearly in love

with classic Hip-Hop, and pay their respects often, with return artist support

from high on the totem pole. After all Defari, to be bluntly honest: had it not

been for King Tee and E-Swift’s endorsement on your work, I may’ve never discovered

you.

You also accuse the "Internet." Oddly, the

interview was for a website. Also interesting: from your Billy The Kid LP to

most recently, Odds and Evens album, aren’t available in many stores. You,

yourself are an "Internet" friendly artist. But granted, I don’t

"look" like you. That’s pretty ignorant and simple thinking for a man

with a diploma from Columbia University. Come to think of it….most of the